Film Stories: Screenplays as Story

Michael Roemer is Professor of Film at Yale University, where he has taught courses in filmmaking and screenwriting for more than 30 years. He is also the independent filmmaker of such movies as The Plot Against Harry, Nothing But a Man, Pilgrim Farewell, and the widely-celebrated documentary, Dying.

For filmmakers and screenwriters, the writer and director Michael Roemer (Yale U.) discusses his highly personal approach to screenwriting. Early on, Roemer realized that the rules and conventions most frequently espoused in film schools and texts taught not how to tell a story but how to tell a story that would sell-by meeting audience expectations and avoiding any challenge to deeply held convictions. Roemer instead chose a path that didn't ensure commercial success, but that allowed his stories to unfold as an integral part of his life. Vol. 1 included a comprehensive introduction and the screenplays of Roemer's films Nothing but a man, The plot against Harry, Stone my heart, Pilgrim, farewell, and Losing Emily.